Monthly Archives: July 2024
How the Pathetically Cheap Cost of Driving Makes Our Cities Worse
What is the real autonomy of an e-bike?
When you surf the net looking for electric bicycles information, bike manufacturers and shops offer it as X kilometers for a complete full battery. They say 50, 80, 100 or 120 kilometers that the e-bike can run with the battery. However, the lack of an international standard makes it impossible to compare e-bikes models. There is a clear, famous statement: the more Wh a battery has, the more kilometers can ride a biker.
Moreover, several factors come into play. For instance, take the same e-bike and the same cyclist, but different wind direction or speed, how many her saddlebags weight, aerodynamics of garment and accessories, wheels pressure, slope of a road, what gear she uses the most or whether she pedals in a cold or warm day (lithium batteries are more affected by low temperatures, thus they perform up to 20% less).
The traditional flux of questions-answers starts by the client, arrives to the shop owner, then the distributor and finally reaches the e-bicycle manufacturer. It would be so easy to make it simpler if there was an international standard. For example, every e-bike on a standardized bicycle roller with a dynamometer would allow to calculate the power and the exact battery consumption. Taking these numbers, manufacturers could apply a -+10 or a +-20 to give bicyclers real data about their products. In the meantime, bikers look for personal experiences about e-bikes in internet forums and specialized webs.
Amsterdam Just Closed their Busiest Road
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Recumbent bicycles
Bicycles can be adapted to whoever, no matter his physical condition. In some cases cyclists can suffer if they use a bad saddle which can cause back and ass pain. Such was the reason why at least one bike manufacturer was created. In reality, the bike store is dedicated mainly to recumbent bicycles and by smaller amount cargo bikes. The recumbent bicycle allows biker to pedal more comfortable since she can lean also her back. However, one has to pay attention not to experience an exaggerated curve in the backbone between back and neck.
Positive points (more than allowing disable people use them) are:
– Extra stability thanks to the third wheel
– Good maneuverability after you learn movements and brakes since they are located differently as in a traditional bicycle
– High visibility at ground level
– Pedestrians look at them because the are few recumbent bicycles. The more recumbent bicycles, the more unnoticed will go.